After four inspiring years, Outvertising founder Mark Runacus MBE steps down as our Joint-CEO
Since we launched in 2019, Mark Runacus MBE has led our organisation. Now, after four years at the helm of Outvertising, we are sad to announce that Mark is stepping down as our Joint-CEO.
Alongside a hugely successful career, Mark has been a tireless campaigner for the rights and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in advertising and instrumental in the formation and growth of Outvertising.
In Mark’s own words, Outvertising is “bigger and stronger than ever. And it needs to be. Because LGBTQIA+ prejudice still exists in adland. Sadly, I continue to hear stories of unacceptable behaviour, whether it’s that awful “office banter” or just downright exclusion. The AllIn survey showed clearly that the Queer community doesn’t always feel welcomed in our creative workplaces. There’s still much work to be done.”
His impact has been huge and we are all constantly inspired by the wisdom and passion he unfailingly shares. Whether it’s been steering the organisation through the COVID pandemic, or working with the Advertising Association and the IPA to make the All In Action Plan LGBTQIA+ inclusive, or co-hosting this year’s Outvertising Live alongside Joint-CEO Lucy McKillop, he has been a driving force in our efforts to make advertising and marketing completely LGBTQIA+ inclusive.
Perhaps most impactful of all has been Mark’s resolute commitment to graciously sharing his knowledge and time with people, addressing hundreds of agency and brand-side professionals via initiatives like the Outvertising Roadshow and mentorship partnerships with NABS, the industry’s charity for advertising and media industry’s wellbeing charity.
In the words of our Joint-CEO Lucy McKillop, “setting up Pride AM as was, now Outvertising, Mark has created something that’s become so much greater than the sum of its parts. I have learned so much, and been empowered to grow - all under Mark’s wing.”
It is a sentiment shared by all of us at Outvertising.
News of Mark’s successor will be announced soon.
Our statement to brands and agencies on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
This FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is a step backwards in football’s long path towards becoming an inclusive sport — with tournament host Qatar’s lack of human rights protections for migrant workers, women and LGBTQIA+ people.
The IPA has reported that almost half of all consumers and two-thirds of young adults have more respect for brands who address the many issues around Qatar 2022 than those who stay silent. As football fans, we would love nothing more than to be able to stick to the football, but we need brands to use their platforms to meaningfully showcase what their true inclusive values mean to themselves, their employees and their consumers.
Outvertising’s mission includes supporting and encouraging brands in demonstrating active allyship with the LGBTQIA+ community. We ask brand owners and agencies to stand by their LGBTQIA+ inclusive statements from just a few months ago. With the platform you have during the tournament, allyship can be demonstrated and it can be powerful. For example, we commend England sponsor Lucozade for pulling their branding.
Outvertising is an independent voice for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and representation within the advertising and marketing industry — we are able to advocate for queer people working in our industry. We’re asking brands and agencies to consider how their employees are feeling about their employers developing work for the World Cup. We encourage you to ask yourself how you can better the inclusivity efforts in your own organisation to support the LGBTQIA+ community.
Employees must not feel in any way obligated to participate in, or tacitly endorse, work relating to the World Cup. We ask anyone who is feeling pressured to do so to tell us. Employers must ensure employees do not feel outed by any such process. And if they need any support we would encourage people to reach out to the NABS (the advertising and media’s industry’s wellbeing charity) advice line 0800 707 6607.
— Outvertising
Outvertising partners with the Advertising Association, IPA and ISBA to develop latest step in the All In Action Plan.
All In has announced the next three actions in the All In plan, covering Mental Health, LGBTQ+ inclusion and Physical Disability. This is latest step in UK advertising’s action plan from the Advertising Association, IPA and ISBA to build a workplace where everyone feels they belong.
We’re proud to say that we’ve worked with the AA to develop an LGBTQ+ action, shaped by data from the landmark All In Census, which saw 16,000 advertising professionals take part.
This action ask companies to improve the experience of our LGBTQ+ talent by welcoming the use of gender pronouns in their organisations. According to data from the All In Census, 45% of LGBTQ+ people reported stress/anxiety compared to 31% industry average. LGBTQ+ people are more likely to have been made to feel uncomfortable in the workplace (20% versus 13% of heterosexual people).
Mark Runacus MBE, Joint Chief Executive of Outvertising and Chair of the LGBTQ+ Working Group, said: “This is an opportunity for the UK creative industries to lead the way in belonging. By welcoming and encouraging the use of pronouns, employers can help LGBTQ+ employees bring their full authentic selves to the workplace and strongly signal the importance of inclusion for everyone. We believe that in doing this we’ll all be more creative, more innovative, and more productive.”
For more information visit the All In Hub and read more in our Employer Guidance resources.